Facile One-Pot Biogenic Synthesis of Cu-Co-Ni Trimetallic Nanoparticles for Enhanced Photocatalytic Dye Degradation

Abstract

Biomolecules from plant extracts have gained significant interest in the synthesis of nanoparticles owing to their sustainable properties, cost efficiency, and environmental wellbeing. An eco-friendly and facile method has been developed to prepare Cu-Co-Ni trimetallic nanoparticles with simultaneous bio-reduction of Cu-Co-Ni metal precursors by aqueous extract of oregano (Origanum vulgare) leaves. Dramatic changes in physicochemical properties of trimetallic nanoparticles occur due to synergistic interactions between individual metal precursors, which in turn outclass the properties of corresponding monometallic nanoparticles in various aspects. The as biosynthesized Cu-Co-Ni trimetallic nanoparticles were initially analyzed using ultraviolet (UV)–visible spectroscopy. The morphology, structure, shape, and size of biosynthesized trimetallic nanoparticles were confirmed by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and X-ray diffraction (XRD) spectroscopy. The elemental analysis was carried out by energy-dispersive X-ray (EDX) spectroscopy. Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) microscopy was carried out to explain the critical role of the biomolecules in the Origanum vulgare leaf extract as capping and stabilizing agents in the nanoparticle formation. Additionally, simultaneous thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and differential thermogravimetry (DTG) analysis was also performed to estimate the mass evaluation and rate of the material weight changes. The photocatalytic activity of as biosynthesized trimetallic nanoparticles was investigated towards methylene blue (MB) dye degradation and was found to be an efficient photocatalyst for dye degradation. Kinetic experiments have shown that photocatalytic degradation of MB dye followed pseudo-first-order kinetics. The mechanism of the photodegradation process of biogenic Cu-Co-Ni trimetallic nanoparticles was also addressed.

Facile Bio-Fabrication of Ag-Cu-Co Trimetallic Nanoparticles and Its Fungicidal Activity against Candida auris

“…The crystalline size and the nanoparticle identification in biosynthesized Ag-Cu-Co trimetallic nanoparticles are given in Table 1 . The crystallite size of the Ag-Cu-Co trimetallic nanoparticles was found to be 17.03 nm calculated by using Scherrer’s Equation (2): where d corresponds to the particle size, K is the shape-dependent Scherrer’s constant, λ is the wavelength of radiation, β is the full peak width at half-maximum (FWHM) of the peak and θ is the Bragg diffraction angle [ 10 ].…”

“…Still, extensive exploration is needed in this area. Nanoparticles and nano-scaled materials, particularly metallic nanoparticles, contain new and exceptional physicochemical and biological properties [ 7 , 8 , 9 , 10 ]. The practical and promising antimicrobial ability of trimetallic nanoparticles was more than the mono and bi-metallic equivalents.…”

Phytogenic Fabrication of Ag–Fe Bimetallic Nanoparticles for Cell Cycle Arrest and Apoptosis Signaling Pathways in Candida auris by Generating Oxidative Stress

“…The phytogenic green synthesis of Ag–Fe bimetallic nanoparticles was carried out according to the previously reported protocol [ 25 ]. In this synthesis process, 25 mL of 2 mM AgNO 3 was mixed with 2 mM Fe(NO 3 ) 3 in a three-neck flask with constant stirring and room temperature (25 °C).…”

“…Overall, biological methods eliminate the need for reactive and toxic reducing agents that harm the environment and provide more significant modulation and control over nanoparticles’ shape, size and stability [ 7 , 8 , 9 , 10 ]. Many reports have been presented on Fe, Au, Ag and Zn nanoparticles’ synthesis with extracts from plants and microorganisms such as fungi, yeast, bacteria and algae [ 24 , 25 , 26 ]. Biogenic nanostructure synthesis is, therefore, a safer alternative approach, since it contains non-toxic reactants derived from biological sources from unicellular organisms such as bacteria [ 27 ] and fungi [ 28 ], and extracts from plants [ 29 , 30 ].…”

Synthesis and potential applications of trimetallic nanostructures

“…Alshehri et al 113 used Origanum vulgare leaf extract for the synthesis of Cu-Co-Ni NPs. The hydroxy groups of the watersoluble biomolecules of the plant extracts synergistically reduced the metal ions as shown in Fig.…”